Development in Microorganisms
Code
21215
Academic unit
NOVA Medical School | Faculdade de Ciências Médicas
Department
Genetics
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
Prof. Doutor Adriano Henriques
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
(i) To guide the students through the discovery of organization of microbial cells during growth and development.
(ii) To foster the development of skills in (a) analysis, interpretation and discussion of scientific articles; (b) writing of scientific texts (c) presenting scientific results with visual support.
(iii) To learn: how to use phase contrast and fluorescence microscopy to study cell shape, cell division and cell differentiation; how to monitor the subcellular localization of proteins or regions of the bacterial chromosome in living cells; how to use a standard assay (GSTpull down) to detect a proteinprotein interaction; how to purify bacterial spores and to assay for spore resistance properties; how to examine the protein composition of the spore surface; the morphogenetic role of proteins involved in spore morphogenesis; how to manipulate the spore surface for applications in biomedicine and biotechnology.
Prerequisites
n/a
Subject matter
1. Bacterial cell cycle and morphogenesis: i) organization and segregation of the chromosome; coordination between DNA segregation and cell division; ii) Cytoskeletal structures and cell morphogenesis.
2. Principles and mechanisms of protein subcellular localization: i) cues for protein localization ii) The assembly of organelles. Establishing cell polarity. Architecture of genetic circuits, gene expression and protein localization.
3. Microbial development: i) in the context of earth´s natural history. Developmental programs in model organisms; social behavior and multicellular development; biofilms; ii) Developmental biology of Bacillus subtilis: origin and evolution of sporulation. Developmental commitment. Compartmentalized gene expression. Morphological checkpoints. Structure and outputs of regulatory circuits. Sporulation and toxin production by Clostridium difficile; the B. anthracics and B. cereus pathogens. Impact of spores in biotechnology and biomedicine.
Bibliography
- Molecular Genetics of Bacteria, 4th Edition, Larry Snyder et al. 2013 ASM Press.
- Several updated papers and reviews on selected topics
- Cell Biology of Bacteria, L. Shapiro and R.M. Losick Eds. 2011 CSHL Press.
- Recent scientific articles and reviews on selected topics.
Teaching method
The theoretical and practical classes directed for the resolution of problems and to the use of the state-of-the-art methodologies to study microbial development will enable the acquisition of knowledge in a global, integrated and applied manner. This will foster the simultaneous comprehension of theoretical basis of microbial development and will provide the necessary tools for the laboratory work in this field of knowledge.
Evaluation method
Lectures where the main topics and concepts are presented and discussed with the students; laboratory
sessions preceded by a theoretical introduction; group presentation and discussion of scientific articles by the students. Evaluation will be performed through: an exam focusing in the theoretical and pratical classes (50%); presentation and discussion of papers (40%); general impression of the student by the teachers (10%).